Friendship

Friends are very important in our lives. Friendships are easily formed when we are young and do not demand too much out of it. According to studies and research, humans tend to form the highest number of friendships at kindergarten and primary level. However, one tends to have fewer friends as one grows older and wiser. This is because we realize there are good friends and bad ones.

The saying that a friend in need is a friend indeed is very apt in this scenario because good friends are those who are reliable and trustworthy. at a younger age, our demands are not too high regarding friendships as we rely mostly on our parents, siblings, and relatives for important things. The friends we formed at this age are merely considered playmates rather than companions and confidants. Thus, our expectations of them are not high.

More serious friendships are formed when one enters puberty and achieves a certain level of maturity. the latter allows one to forge fellowship with those who share the same interests, passion as well as similar moral and religious values. Thus, it is not surprising to observe that in some Asian countries, mature students at the upper secondary level have friends of the same ethnic and religious backgrounds. At the university level, it is even more apparent. Even the Ministry of education has voiced concern over this phenomenon where polarization is prominent. The Indians, Chinese, and Malays hardly mix with each other and are seen usually in the company of their own kind.

One of the main reasons for polarization among university students is that as they reach a certain level of maturity, common binding factors such as religion, customs, and traditions play important role in the selection of friends or mates. In addition, since the majority of these students come from rural backgrounds where there is not much cultural interchange, they feel rather awkward forging friendships with students of other races. However, this does not mean the students are racist or suffer from a superiority complex. Thus, the university should introduce more programs that allow cultural and religious mixing and understanding of the other.

Nevertheless, in the working world, a different scenario prevails. One finds Indians, Chinese, and other races forging stable and long-lasting friendships. This is most probably due o the fact that to be productive in one’s work, one has to believe in teamwork. The latter actually enhances the bond between the workers and eventually, long-lasting friendships are formed. In fact, this situation has even led to many interracial marriages between the three major races. the products of the intermarriages are very unique as they have friends and relatives from both ethnic backgrounds.